Whenever someone performs a Google search, Google’s algorithm tries to understand what they really want. Now, there are several factors in this algorithm, and one of the most important is location.
For example, if a user searches for a restaurant, it will be of little use if they get a link to a restaurant thousands of miles away.
If your website depends on traffic from a specific location, you’ll need to ensure that it features high in those location-specific search results.
The problem arises when you run a global business that relies on traffic from different countries. In this case, you’ll want to feature high in the search results of every country you operate in.
So today, we’ll show you how to track your website’s SERP performance in different countries.
Your first option to track your website’s SERP for different countries is by using Google itself.
Here, you have a few options.
Firstly, you can go to Google’s homepage and click on Settings at the bottom of the screen. In the dialog box that opens, you’ll then click Search Settings.
You can then scroll to the bottom of the page that opens, where you’ll find an option to change your Region Settings. Under these settings, you can choose a specific country.
When you now perform a search once you’ve changed your region settings, you’ll see results from that country.
Another option is to go back to Google’s homepage and click on Settings again.
In the dialog box that opens, you’ll then click on Advanced Search. Then, select a country from the region dropdown list. Based on this search, you’ll get results relevant to your chosen country.
The problem with these two methods is that they provide results on a country level, which is not ideal if you want results from a specific location.
To solve the problem, you should add a local parameter to your search. Add &near=location, where “location” is the specific location you want to look at, at the end of the URL in the search bar.
For example, let’s say you want to see the search results for restaurants in London by using the query restaurant near me. When the results page opens, you’ll add &near=London at the end of the URL.
Keep in mind, however, that none of these methods might offer the most accurate results, and you’ll still get a lot of results from your own location.
A better option might be to use Google Search Console. This free tool from Google not only helps you track popular queries but also allows you to monitor your individual pages’ rankings. This will provide plenty of valuable insights into how your website performs in different countries.
For example, when using the tool, you can click on the Countries tab to learn where your website or pages rank for specific keywords in different countries.
You can also learn what keyword searchers users are using in the queries to find your website.
In turn, this shows you those keywords you might be ranking well for on a country level but where you might perform poorly on a more granular level.
It’s important to remember, though, that while Google Search Console simplifies tracking your SERP and is free, its data isn’t always accurate. That’s why you may want to source the data from GSC but analyze it with another tool.
Finally, you can track your website’s SERP in different countries using a dedicated SERP tracking tool.
The benefit of tools like Mangools’ is that they’re specifically aimed at tracking search engine results and measuring your SERP performance more accurately.
These tools typically offer features that allow you to identify profitable keywords. You can also use them for competitor tracking.
For instance, you can check where your competitors are getting their traffic from and what keywords they use.
More importantly, these SERP tracking tools can show you where your website ranks in a specific region or country. In addition, by using these tools, you can also learn which keywords work best in a particular location.
Remember, though, that while they offer several benefits, most of these tools require a monthly subscription, which is a relevant consideration when you’re looking to limit your expenses.
While you should use Google’s tools to understand your SERP performance in different countries, you don’t have to invest in other expensive tools (especially if you’re still growing).
You can also take timed screenshots of your target SERPs with ScreenshotAPI.
For example, let’s say you want to track “best restaurants in London” to ensure you’re constantly ranking prominently.
All you’d have to do is enter the query with the location-based parameters into your ScreenshotAPI dashboard, and you’d receive programmatic screenshots.
Copy the SERP URL, add it to ScreenshotAPI, and configure your settings (e.g., automated screenshots, text extraction, and more).
Then, you’ll automatically get fresh SERP screenshots:
When you’re new to SEO or simply want to maintain your results, ScreenshotAPI is a quick and effective tool to keep a finger on your SERP pulse point and make sure you don’t lose the first spot!
Are you ready to keep an eye on your SERP performance? Try ScreenshotAPI for free today!
